Sure why not.
I just think it would be nice to have a thread honoring our vets who gave the ultimate sacrifice without having to listen to squabble about Bill Ayers, Obama, Biden or even Trump.
Agreed to include that hiking and jogging are good although jogging is more convenient and immediate while hiking often requires more prep and going somewhere to do it. Been a jogger almost always.
So when I was a civilian again after the Army at Ft. Myer, and I lived right at the Potomac in southwest Washington, I jogged safely along the outside wall of Ft. McNair and back, the Ft. McNair main gate being two blocks from my co-op buildings, while the post extends out to the mouth of the Potomac. I'd been part of several ceremonies inside McNair of course during my mostly four years at Ft. Myer so it kept me connected in addition to visiting Ft. Myer right across the river to see friends and take in ceremonies, to include at Arlington Cemetery.
It was most personal for me when a troop E-3 who started out in my platoon, Sgt. (E-5) Marvin L. Franklin Jr became a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I personally talked him into it because he was one of the best of the best -- outstanding in every way. Marvin advanced to become a commander of the relief at the Tomb of the Unknown Solder -- Tomb Guard Badge 056 -- then got assigned to the 1st Cav in the Nam until the fatal day at Binh Dinh, August 31, 1967. We of The Old Guard held a memorial ceremony for Sgt. Marvin Franklin Jr. at the Tomb attended by his parents. I knew Marvin's story that Marvin kept to himself, that as only son of the chief of the Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Marvin was exempted by law from mandatory military service because he was heir to becoming chief, yet Marvin joined as an RA because he wanted to serve. Among the Brave Marvin's posthumous awards at age 22 is the Bronze Star with a V. So I ask you to kindly consider Sgt. Franklin at the Memorial Wall for anyone who visits there or returns there - as I myself have viewed the Wall many times, from A-Z (just not recently however).
All told I was 14 years in Washington after The Old Guard, to include grad school, so I got to Ft. Myer and ANC any time I wanted to arrange it on my own time, to include keeping contact with those I served alongside and in meeting some of the newcomers too. The Old Guard Association of veterans was formed in 1997 open to all former members who meet at Ft. Myer each September courtesy of the Army, lay a wreath at the Tomb, participate in a review parade at Col. Conmy Hall carrying the Regiment Colors, watch the Army Drill Team show its present stuff and so on.
Marine Corps War Memorial is at Ft. Myer Wright (South) Gate and at the far wall of the original ANC so during my time living in DC we'd sometimes we'd go there too for the weekly evening parade. Several original sections of ANC are next to Ft. Myer Wright Gate and the MC Memorial and are full of grave markers that have only one thing on 'em: "Unknown: Civil War."
